We Speak Actors

Natalya Tsvetkova starring opposite Ed Westwick in upcoming “DarkGame’

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

Natalya Tsvetkova is a Russian born actress and producer who plays one of the lead roles in the upcoming movie ‘DarkGame’. She is acting opposite well known ‘Gossip Girl’ TV series star Ed Westwick. DarkGame is a dark thriller. DarkGame is out in the US on Feb 20^th on all major VOD platforms like Apple, Amazon, and is being released in the UK in late March (date TBC), with other countries following on or around then too.

Natalya, can you please tell us about your beginnings in the film industry and best projects to date?

I am an actress and producer based in the UK. Originally from Yekaterinburg in Russia, I spent 10 years in Moscow pursuing my career ambitions, prior to making the move to England.

My love for film began at an early age. Even as a child I was experimenting with video cameras and making short movies with my sisters.

“Even though I went on to study Law at University, it was clear to me that cinema, and especially acting, was my true calling.”

I also knew I wanted to develop my acting and language skills so I could eventually work on English language films. I grew up watching all these amazing films that fired my imagination, and I knew I wanted to achieve something similar for my life.
During my time in Moscow, I kept building on my experience, attending acting classes and splitting my time working as an actress with producing commercials and helping organise an annual film festival in Rostov. While in Moscow, I was cast in numerous TV commercials, I also had a lead role in an eight-episode TV series, Moscow Decameron, and appeared in the award-winning feature film Conference, as well as producing and taking lead roles in short films such as Texting Life, Theatre Not For Everyone, Never Believe.

Pursuing my dream to work in English language film and TV, I spent some time in the US, attending acting classes there and appearing in short films (The Enforcer, Shadow). This led to opportunities to work behind the scenes on some English language projects, the feature film “Becoming” and TV series “The Pact”, which also led to me being cast in a role in that series.

More recently, I appear as one of the leads in Brief Encounters, a multinational feature film that weaves four stories together. I produced the Russian set part of the story, and am one of the leads, playing opposite Louis Mandylor. The final chapter is being filmed this spring and the film will be released towards the end of 2024.

You are one of the lead actresses of the upcoming film ‘DarkGame’. Can you tell us more about your work and behind the scenes experience?

In “Darkgame,” I play a Russian woman, Katya, who moved to America with her son, having escaped an abusive relationship, only to find herself in a worse situation. She is one of several people abducted and placed into a deadly reality game show.

“As one of the producers of the film, I was involved in the development of the story, so I could inject elements into the character that I wanted to explore. “

My nephew was inspiration for the character having a son of that age. It was interesting for me to play a character that had everything to live for, not just for herself but because her son had no one else. She had been through a lot but because of what she had been through she turns out to be one of the best placed to cope with the situation they are in.

The shoot was exhilarating,…and cold! The DarkGame set was as chilling as it appears on screen. The crew were amazing, bringing hot water bottles to the cast inbetween takes.

What was your experience working on set with Ed Westwick?

Ed was wonderful to work with. He was so well prepared, and he is an extremely focused actor. I was a little nervous before my first scene with him, but he’s such a professional and so relaxed that I was very at ease working with him.

Tell us about your work and projects as an executive producer?

I’ve always enjoyed producing as well as acting, I especially enjoy having input on the story and helping organise the financial part of the process, on projects that I have helped develop. Of course, being part of the producing team at this stage allows me to develop the kind of roles and characters that I think I will also enjoy playing.

Separately, I also sometimes work behind the scenes to help other films get financed, as an Executive Producer.

Who do you suggest to see the film ‘DarkGame’ and where can the audience watch the film?

DarkGame is a dark thriller rather than a horror. The film has several layers and strands to it. On the surface it is a gripping and tense thriller. Ed is the detective on the case, racing against time to uncover where these people are being held, whilst my character is the audiences viewpoint on being in the game.

But the film is also making a comment on society’s fascination with reality TV, and how social media can also sometimes be used to propagate and share peoples suffering. So I feel it has a wide audience – from fans of Squid Game to detective thrillers such as Seven.0.

Featured photo credit: Happy Hour Productions

We Speak Actors

Actress Marta Svetek talks ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and expanding her career from Games to Film

Published

5 days ago

April 13, 2026

Anna Sutton

Slovenian actress Marta Svetek has been building an impressive international career across both video games and film. Known for her work in major gaming franchises including ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and ‘Battlefield’, Svetek has become a familiar presence in the world of video game acting. Her performance work also spans major titles such as ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ and ‘Destiny 2’, where motion capture plays a crucial role in bringing complex characters to life. Alongside her work in gaming, Svetek has also appeared on screen in films including ‘I Am Rage’, with upcoming projects such as ‘Savage Prey’ and ‘The Death of Us’ set for release in 2026. In this interview, she speaks about her journey from Slovenia to London, working inside some of the world’s biggest game franchises, and why motion capture is one of the purest forms of acting.

You have worked across both voice acting and motion capture for some of the biggest video game franchises, including ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘VALORANT’, and ‘Battlefield’. What first drew you to performance work in the gaming industry, and how did that journey begin for you?

I’ve been mashing buttons on controllers since before I could walk! I literally grew up with video games, and it turns out they would also become the thing that changed my life in the most amazing ways. I’m from Slovenia, a small country where having an acting career is challenging — although, isn’t it everywhere? I originally chose the “stable job” route in technology that made my family happy and ultimately brought me to London, but I always kept one foot in acting. It was actually my tech job that gave me the break I needed to start working in games. It was a case of opportunity meeting my fairly unique set of skills — acting, martial arts, technical understanding, and a lifelong love of games — that gave me the start I needed.

You made your debut in the ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ franchise with ‘Security Breach’ and continued working on the series with Steel Wool Studios. What was it like stepping into such an iconic gaming universe and becoming part of a franchise with such a dedicated global fanbase?

It’s always amazing — and always a little terrifying! I was aware of the franchise at the time, but I had no idea how big it had become. When the ‘Security Breach’ trailer came out and reached 2.4 million views in just 24 hours, it really started to sink in. The reaction to the characters I was trusted with was just… wow — especially for Gregory and Roxanne Wolf.

“The feeling of having your performance reach so many people in such a meaningful way is hard to describe and always fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.”

It’s why I chose to become an actor — to connect. Now I also get to connect with fans in person at conventions all around the world.

Your motion capture work includes major titles such as ‘Destiny 2: The Witch Queen’, ‘Horizon: Forbidden West’, and the official F1 games. What is the most exciting or challenging aspect of performing through motion capture compared to traditional acting?

Motion capture is like Marmite for actors — you either love it or hate it. But if you ask me, it’s also one of the purest forms of acting. You’re in a big empty room wearing a Velcro suit, surrounded by infrared cameras. You have minimal props and maybe some tape on the floor to represent objects, and you still have to deliver a completely truthful performance, no matter how outlandish the circumstances.

“Your imagination has to fill in so many blanks. And I absolutely love it. It’s a space where I’m not limited by my appearance or by fitting a certain archetype. It’s pure performance.”

In ‘Destiny 2’ alone, I was an alien queen, an augmented human sorceress, and the literal embodiment of a dark hive mind!

In addition to gaming, you are also appearing in films including ‘I Am Rage’ and the upcoming projects ‘Savage Prey’ and ‘The Death of Us’. How has working across both film and gaming shaped you as a performer?

Acting is always about finding the truth of the character — the choice, the story. But jumping between these two very different worlds has undeniably made me a different calibre of actor. I started in games and later moved into film, and I’ve really enjoyed leaning into the subtlety of film performance over the past few years. At the same time, my voiceover and motion capture background made things like ADR and stunts so much easier. Particularly on ‘Savage Prey’, I needed to bring a subtle and intense performance for the camera while also performing my own stunts and practically setting a new speed record for ADR. That hugely benefited production — and it all comes from the crucible of video game performance.

With your career spanning major game franchises and upcoming film releases, what kinds of roles or projects are you most excited to explore next?

Even though I still have so much I want to explore in both film and games, my dream project would actually be joining the cast of a TV adaptation of a game — something like ‘Fallout’ or Henry Cavill’s upcoming ‘Warhammer’ 40k series. I’m such a hardcore 40k fan that I absolutely need to be part of that universe — whether as a Sister of Battle, an Eldar, or maybe an intrepid Cadian. Just don’t kill me off too quickly! As an actor and artist, I feel like I was meant to tell those larger-than-life stories of hope, heroism, and impossible odds. I’m getting fired up just talking about it — that’s exactly the kind of storytelling I’m most excited to explore next.

Featured photo credit: Urban Bradesko